Methods and Apparatuses for Docking a Portable Electronic Device That Has a Planar Like Configuration and That Operates in Multiple Orientations

1. A docking station configured to mechanically accept and operatively interface with a portable electronic device having a first electrical interface, the docking station comprising: a platform having a surface for receiving a backside of the portable electronic device, the platform including a second electrical interface; a leg that supports the platform, wherein the leg is configured to support the docking station such that the portable electronic device is in an upright position when its backside is being received by the surface of the platform, wherein the portable electronic device is capable of interfacing with the docking station in multiple orientations relative to the platform, wherein the multiple orientations include a first orientation and a second orientation, wherein: the second electrical interface is configured for transferring power to the first electrical interface when the portable electronic device is in the first orientation; and the second electrical interface is further configured for transferring power to the first electrical interface when the portable electronic device is in the second orientation; and wherein the first electrical interface includes a first center contact and a first outer contact, wherein the second electrical interface includes a second center contact and at least one second outer contact, wherein the first center contact is aligned with the second center contact when the portable device is in the first orientation and in the second orientation.

2. The docking system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the second outer contact forms a concentric ring around the second center contact, and wherein a distance from the second center contact to the concentric ring is equal to a distance from the first center contact to the first outer contact.

3. The docking system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the at least one second outer contact includes a plurality of segmented outer contacts, each equidistant from the second center contact, and wherein a distance from the second center contact to the segmented outer contacts is equal to a distance from the first center contact to the first outer contact.

4. The docking system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first and second electrical interfaces are rotationally symmetric about an axis so as to ensure transfer of power if the portable electronic device is in the first orientation and if the portable electronic device is in the second orientation.

5. The docking system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first electrical interface and the second electrical interface are aligned along an axis and juxtaposed relative to one another when the portable electronic device is respectively supported by the platform in the first orientation and in the second orientation, and wherein a first of the one or more alignment features supports only the first orientation and a second of the one or more alignment features supports only the second orientation, the first orientation being vertical, the second orientation being horizontal.

6. The docking system as recited in claim 5 , further comprising: one or more alignment features for aligning the first electrical interface and the second electrical interface along the axis in the first orientation and along the axis in the second orientation.

7. The docking station as recited in claim 6 , wherein the one or more alignment features support a plurality of orientations including the first orientation and the second orientation and at least one other orientation, the first orientation being vertical, the second orientation being horizontal.

8. The docking station as recited in claim 6 , wherein the one or more alignment features support all angles through 360 degrees.

9. A docking station configured to mechanically accept and operatively interface with a portable electronic device having a first electrical interface, the docking station comprising: a platform having a surface for receiving a backside of the portable electronic device, the platform including a second electrical interface; a leg that supports the platform, wherein the leg is configured to support the docking station such that the portable electronic device is in an upright position when its backside is being received by the surface of the platform, wherein the portable electronic device is capable of interfacing with the docking station in multiple orientations relative to the platform, wherein the multiple orientations include a first orientation and a second orientation, and wherein: the second electrical interface is configured for transferring power to the first electrical interface when the portable electronic device is in the first orientation; and the second electrical interface is further configured for transferring power to the first electrical interface when the portable electronic device is in the second orientation; and the first electrical interface and the second electrical interface are aligned along an axis and juxtaposed relative to one another when the portable electronic device is respectively supported by the platform in the first orientation and in the second orientation; and one or more alignment features for aligning the first electrical interface and the second electrical interface along the axis in the first orientation and along the axis in the second orientation, wherein a first of the one or more alignment features supports only the first orientation and a second of the one or more alignment features supports only the second orientation, the first orientation being vertical, the second orientation being horizontal.

10. The docking system as recited in claim 9 , wherein the coupling between the first electrical interface and the second electrical interface is inductive based.

11. A docking station configured to mechanically accept and operatively interface with a portable electronic device having a first electrical interface, the docking station comprising: a platform having a surface for receiving a backside of the portable electronic device, the platform including a second electrical interface; a leg that supports the platform, wherein the leg is configured to support the docking station such that the portable electronic device is in an upright position when its backside is being received by the surface of the platform, wherein the portable electronic device is capable of interfacing with the docking station in multiple orientations relative to the platform, wherein the multiple orientations include a first orientation and a second orientation, wherein: the second electrical interface is configured for transferring power to the first electrical interface when the portable electronic device is in the first orientation; and the second electrical interface is further configured for transferring power to the first electrical interface when the portable electronic device is in the second orientation; and the first electrical interface and the second electrical interface are aligned along an axis and juxtaposed relative to one another when the portable electronic device is respectively supported by the platform in the first orientation and in the second orientation; one or more alignment features for aligning the first electrical interface and the second electrical interface along the axis in the first orientation and along the axis in the second orientation, wherein the one or more alignment features support all angles through 360 degrees; and wherein the platform includes a recess into which a protrusion from the portable electronic device fits, and wherein the recess includes the second electrical interface, wherein the platform further includes a slot that guides a protrusion of the portable electronic device to the recess.

12. A docking system, comprising: a portable electronic device, the portable electronic device including a first electrical interface; and a docking station configured to mechanically accept and operatively interface with the portable electronic device, the docking station including: a platform having a surface for receiving a backside of the portable electronic device, the platform including a second electrical interface; and a leg that supports the platform, wherein the leg is configured to support the docking station such that the portable electronic device is in an upright position when its backside is being received by the surface of the platform, wherein the portable electronic device is capable of interfacing with the docking station in multiple orientations relative to the platform, wherein the multiple orientations are upright and include a first orientation and a second orientation, and wherein: the second electrical interface is configured for transferring power to the first electrical interface when the portable electronic device is in the first orientation; and the second electrical interface is further configured for transferring power to the first electrical interface when the portable electronic device is in the second orientation; and wherein the first electrical interface includes a first center contact and a first outer contact, wherein the second electrical interface includes a second center contact and at least one second outer contact, wherein the first center contact is aligned with the second center contact when the portable device is in the first orientation and in the second orientation.

13. The docking system as recited in claim 12 wherein the portable electronic device is a handheld computing device.

14. The docking system as recited in claim 12 , wherein the first and second electrical interfaces are rotationally symmetric about an axis so as to ensure transfer of power if the portable electronic device is in the first orientation and if the portable electronic device is in the second orientation.

15. The docking system as recited in claim 12 , wherein the first electrical interface and the second electrical interface are aligned along an axis and juxtaposed relative to one another when the portable electronic device is respectively supported by the platform in the first orientation and in the second orientation.

16. The docking system as recited in claim 12 , further comprising: one or more alignment features for aligning the first electrical interface and the second electrical interface along the axis in the first orientation and along the axis in the second orientation.

17. The docking system as recited in claim 16 , wherein the one or more alignment features support all angles through 360 degrees.

18. The docking system as recited in claim 17 , wherein the platform includes a recess into which a protrusion from the portable electronic device fits, wherein the protrusion includes the first electrical interface, wherein the recess includes the second electrical interface, and wherein the platform further includes a slot that guides a protrusion of the portable electronic device to the recess.